Closing device for cellar fire-holes.



W. G. SHEPARD.

CLOSING DEVICE EOE CELLAR EIEE HOLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

WILLIAM C. SHEPARD, OF PITTSFIELD,- MASSACHUSETTS.

CLO$ING DEVICE FOR CELLAR FIRE-HOLES.

floor overlying the cellar or basement,

through which opening, in case of fire in the cellar or basement, thefire hose 1s passed to enable the source of conflagrat-ion to be quicklyreached and extinguished.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple effective device ofthis nature, the closure of which may be quickly removed in case offire, and which when in locked position will efiectually resist theentrance of water therepast, so that the floor may be washed or flushedwith water without danger of leakage thereof into the cellar orbasement.

Further and other objects will appear in the course of the followingspecification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a top plan view ofthe invention, Fig. 2, a section on line 2-2, of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, afragmentary sectional view on line 3-3, of Fig. 1, showing the wrenchhandle in raised position, and Fig. 1, a fragmentary perspective of thefloor plate casing per se.

1, designates the casing or floor plate, which is of annular form andwhich consists of a cylindrical body 2, formed at its base with aninturned annular flange 3, and at its top with a flange 4, the latterprojecting on opposite sides of body 2. The outer portion of flange 1,is countersunk into the floor 5, and is secured thereto as by means ofscrews 6, depicted in Fig. 2.

At diametrically opposite points on the inner portion of flange 1, thereare a pair of openings 7, designed to receive the diametrically oppositeand outwardly projecting studs 8, of the plug or closure 9. This closureconsists of a cylindrical body hav- 1ng an integral top plate 10, formedwith a housing 11, for the handle 12, which latter acts as a Wrench inenabling rotation of the closure to permit of its removal. The hous-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 29, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1910.

Serial No. 413,260.

ing involves in its formation a horizontal web 11, which forms a handleseat normally occupied by handle 12, the latter being accessible throughsemicircular slot 13, and finger opening 1 1, by means of which thehandle may be uplifted into raised operative position. As shown thehandle is approximately semi-circular in form and has its ends turnedinwardly to be disposed in a channel 15, underlying the plate 10. Thehorizontal web 11, which underlies and is spaced from top plate 10, isstrengthened by the vertical web 11, which as depicted in Fig. 1, indotted lines, is of semi-circular form, its connecting part 11', formingone wall of channel 15, (see Fig. 3.) Since top plate 10 projects abovethe handle when the latter is in inoperative position it serves toprotect the same.

On the under side of the inner portion of flange 4, there are formed twocam-faced lugs 16, one adjacent each opening 7 to one side of thelatter. As depicted in Fig. 2, these lugs are desi ned to engage thestuds 8, and since they eflect a wedging action on the studs, closure 9will be forced downwardly bringing the lower edge of its body intointimate contact with a rubber or compressible gasket 17, which seats onflange 3, compressing the latter and effecting a sealed water-tightjoint between the closure and the casing or floor plate. Manifestly thegreater the turning movement of the closure toward the ends of lugs 16,of greatest height, the greater the compression of gasket 17. On theside of each opening 7 opposite to that on which lugs 16, are located isa stop or abutment 18, whose function it is to engage the studs 8, andprevent further rotation thereof during the act of removal of theclosure, the studs when in alinement with openings 7 being then inposition for removal from the casing by mere uplifting movement, as ismanifest. Handle 12, when in raised position serves the function of awrench enabling the necessary rotation of the closure to be effected soas to bring the trunnions thereof into register with openings 7,permitting disengagement of the parts.

Commonly in cases of fire in cellars or basements, it has been thecustom to chop or cut a hole through the floor at the ground level. Byequipping such floors, at determined locations, with this invention, theabove objection is not only completely eliminated, but moreover the timesaved in gaining access to the cellar or basement is a desideratum whichis invaluable in enabling attack of the flames at their inception, andprior to their having opportunity to effect material damage.

It is designed to provide holes at various places through the groundflooring, for the passage through any of them of the hose, enablingconnection with the latter in a basement of the cellar pipe with theequipments hereinabove particularly described for each of said holes.

hat I claim is 1. A floor plate for fire holes, and the like, consistingof a casing embodying a cylindrical body arranged in said hole andformed with an inwardly extending base flange and a top flange whichextends on opposite sides of said body, a compressible gasket seating onthe base flange, the inner portion of the top flange being formed with apair of diametrically opposed openings, a cam faced lug on the underface of the inner portion of said top flange on one side of each of saidopenings, a stop on said flange on the opposite side of each opening, aclosure consisting of a body having its lower edge engaging said gasket,a pair of opposite studs on said body designed to enga e said lugs andto have their rotative movement restricted by said stops, and means toenable the rotation of said closure.

2. A floor-plate for a fire-hole comprising a cylindrical tubular shellhaving at its top an outwardly extending attachment flange and aninwardly extending annular flange provided on its under side with camsurfaces and having oppositely located recesses, and said shell havingat its lower end an in wardly extending annular flange; and acylindrical cup-shaped closure provided with outwardly extending studsat its upper portion adapted to be passed through said recesses tooccupy a position below the upper flange of said cylindrical shell andby rotative movement to have engagements with the aforesaid cam surfacesand adapted by I I l I its lower circular edge to acquire a seating onthe lower flange of said shell, and a compressible packing materialbetween the upper surface of the said lower flange and the lower edge ofthe cup-shaped closure.

3. A floor-plate for a fire-hole comprising a cylindrical tubular shellhaving at its top an outwardly extending attachment flange and aninwardly extending annular flange provided on its under side with camsurfaces, having oppositely located recesses, and pro vided at the sidesof said recesses opposite the locations of the cam surfaces withdependin stop lugs, and said shell having at its lower end an inwardlyextending annular flange; and a cylindrical inverted cup shaped closureprovided with outwardly extending studs at its upper portion adapted tobe passed through said recesses to occupy a position below the upperflange of said cylindrical shell and by rotative movement to h veengagements with the aforesaid cam surfaces and adapted by its lowercircular edge to acquire a seating on the lower flange of said shell,and a compressible packing material between the upper surface of thesaid lower flange and the lower edge of the cup-shaped closure.

4. A floor plate for fire holes, consisting of a casing disposed in thehole, a closure in said casing, said casing having a top plate, ahorizontal web therebelow and spaced therefrom, a vertical connectingweb between the horizontal web and the top plate, a handle havinginturned ends engaging a partof the connecting web and designed to haveits major portion seat on said horizontal web, said top plate having anopen ing cut therethrough so as to enable access to said handle topermitthe latter to be raised and lowered therethrough up from and down to itsseat.

Signed by me at Pittsfleld, Mass, in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

WILLIAM C. SHEPARD. itnesses BENTLEY CUMMINGS, DONALD MAoDoNALn.

